She was born Ellen Jane McAleenan on December 4, 1921 at home to her mother Rosemary Flynn McAleenan and father John McAleenan. She was the longest living of all her family, having been preceded in death by both parents, an infant brother, Patrick, older sister who passed at age 6, Rosemary, and later in adulthood her brother Jack and sister Patricia.
She grew up in St. Louis and on September 6, 1941, married her childhood sweetheart John Thomas (Jack) Schneider, who also preceded her in death. They lived in several Midwest cities and then Jack's job moved them to Northern Virginia, where she lived for most of the next 61 years; having spent a few years in Atlanta, Ga. She and Jack loved to travel and enjoyed many trips with their children, family, and friends, which took them to Europe, South America, Japan, China, Canada and all across the US including Alaska and Hawaii. They had wonderful neighbors and friends, and were active members of St. John The Beloved Catholic Church.
Jane worked as a hairdresser, which she began at the young age of 10 when she worked in a salon near her home, learning to make shampoo from shaving bars of soap and mixing hair color . She later opened salons in her homes, with her reputation spreading word-of-mouth until she had a full book of loyal customers and she continued working until the age of 90 when she sold the home she and Jack had built in 1964 and then moved into a home with her son and his family.
Jane was a warm, thoughtful, loving and outgoing woman who always had a big smile on her face and showed care and concern for the interests and needs of her family and friends. She loved people more than anything, and enjoyed socializing at parties and entertaining at home with her delicious cooking and baking. She believed in celebrating life and life's special events and left none unattended-to by sending cards and gifts.
She was a loving and devoting daughter, wife, mother, aunt, and grandmother. And she had just met her 6 month old great-granddaughter. She is survived by her devoted children, Mary Pat Nanney (Ken), Jack Schneider (Ramona), and her grandchildren, Philip Nanney (Jenna Brooks), Kaitlyn White (Chase), Paul Schneider, Gus Schneider, and great-grand daughter Emory Brooks-Nanney.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, May 19,2017, 11:00 am, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 3304 Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201. Interment will follow at 2:00 pm at Arlington National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Capital Caring Hospice Facility, 2900 Telestar Ct. Falls Church, VA 22042 www.capitalcaring.org
Online condolences and fond memories of Jane may be offered to the family at www.murphyfuneralhomes.com.
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